SoHo Archives - Adventure, baby!

The Best of New York City for Kids: Children’s Museum of the Arts

September 26, 2016 / Indoor Play, Museums & Galleries, New York, New York Life / 4 Comments

Little artists will love New York’s Children’s Museum of the Arts, a hands-on art museum dedicated to engaging kids aged 10 months-15 years. While the museum runs many hands-on programs throughout the year, we just love to drop by for a creative day out whenever we are in town.

So what’s there to do?

Explore the current exhibition in the Gallery and join in exhibit-themed workshops.

In the Media Lab, learn how to animate or watch a short film made by CMA students.

Mould a scene from your imagination at the very popular Clay Bar (ages 5 and over).

Upon request, record a song, speech, or score a soundtrack in the Sound Booth (only available on Thursday, Saturday, or Sunday).

Kids under five can get messy with art materials in the WEE Arts early childhood studio.

Head to the Fine Arts Studio is to paint, draw, sculpt, or sew an original masterpiece.

What you need to know before you go:

The Clay Bar is one of the most popular stations so sign up for a 35 minutes session as soon as you arrive then check out the other areas of the museum while you wait for your time slot.

The WEE Arts Studio for kids under five is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12-3:30pm Thursday, 12-6pm, and weekends from 10am-5pm. The studio is also open for WEE Arts Drop in sessions when the museum is closed to the public every Monday through Friday from 10:45 AM – 12 PM and Wednesday from 1:45-3 PM.

Prepare to get messy! While there are smocks provided, dress your child in clothes that they can get paint on.

Children’s Museum of the Arts
103 Charlton St, New York, NY 10014
Online
Hours: Mondays: 12-5 PM
Tuesdays & Wednesdays: WEE Arts Drop In Classes* ONLY ( for ages 5 & under, see below)
Thursdays & Fridays: 12-6 PM
Saturdays & Sundays: 10 AM-5 PM
Prices: $12 per person
Get Directions

Dominique Ansel Bakery; Kid-friendly Places To Eat, SoHo, New York

March 5, 2013 / Manhattan Munchies, SoHo / 3 Comments

After a gluttonous afternoon we decided to end it with … even more food, of course. Our target – the Dominique Ansel Bakery in SoHo, for pastries that would blow our calorie counts for the next month.

What was totally surprising was how easy it was to stop by here with a toddler. I’d previously only ordered to go from the front counter, not realising they have a large back garden area, enclosed like a conservatorium. Lots of tables free, lots of space – no one caring if our manic toddler ran around like a nut case. Miss Cheese was in heaven with all the treats coming her way – hot chocolate, croissant, cream puffs. No wonder she was manic … My favourite thing to order here is the DKA (“Dominique’s Kouign Amann”). It doesn’t look like much (it looks kinda like a rock cake), but it’s devine. The best description comes from their website: “Tender, flaky, croissant-like dough with a caramelized crunchy crust”. Yes please.

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No. The front of the store is a bit tight, but they have a large (enclosed) garden out the back where your giant stroller will fit.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Baby-friendly rating: ♥♥—

Dominique Ansel Bakery
189 Spring St,
New York
Phone: (212) 219 2773
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-7pm Sun 9am-7pm

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Vive La Crepe; Kid-friendly Restaurants, SoHo, Manhattan, New York

February 9, 2013 / Manhattan Munchies, New York Food, SoHo / 1 Comment

It seems like something as simple as a really good crepe can be hard to find. We’ve been obsessed with the Vive La Crepe chain for a while, and last weekend went to SoHo just for crepes.

The store is run very efficiently. Order and pay at the counter, and your crepe will be ready within about 10 minutes. They’re super friendly towards the babes, and will bring over your food if they see you have your hands full.

Order at the counter – huge selection of crepes.

What makes them so good? The perfect batter, crisp on the edges, soft and slightly sweet in the middle, and plenty of fresh toppings like mozzarella, tomato and basil (my favourite). Their dessert crepes also rock my world – we can never settle at just one savoury crepe, we always need to go back for more.

It turns out that babies have good taste and love crepes too. Cheese went wild for the batter as well as the fillings – gooey cheese in particular. They’re fab for kids cos they can hold pieces in their hands and it doesn’t make too much of a mess.

The only downside is this SoHo location is a bit cramped when you bring a baby. The chain has various locations though, and we’ve also been to Vive La Crepe at Union Square, which had lots more space for strollers as well as lots more tables in general, so you don’t have to stalk other diners to get a seat. Note – none of the locations that we’ve been to have highchairs, so prepare to balance your kid on your lap and eat one-handed – which is actually fine because you can easily do this with the crepes (they come folded in a triangle shape in a little paper cone). Vive la crepe! See you again soon!

Highchairs: No.
Stroller storage: No. There is a small space next to the counter where you can fold a stroller, or if it’s pretty empty inside you can park the stroller next to your table.
Easy access: Yes. One step to get in.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.

Vive La Crepes
51 Spring St,
New York, NY 10012
Phone: (646) 484 6897
Hours: Mon-Sat 8am-12am, Sun 9am-12am

Public: Kid-Friendly Restaurants, SoHo, New York

October 11, 2012 / Manhattan Munchies, SoHo / 0 comment

Hipster babies rejoice – they, too, can brunch in trendy SoHo at Public. While not a hugely family-friendly venue, they do have high chairs and are very accommodating to babies. Great food (lamingtons!) and atmosphere – a perfect choice for brunch with friends who aren’t into the regular family-restaurant scene. No reservations for brunch, so arrive when they open to be seated first.

Baby and boys check out the self-serve treats.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Minimal. Bring a fold-up stroller or carrier.
Easy access: Yes.
Change tables: No.
Kids’ menu: No.
Kid-friendly rating: ♥♥♥–

Public
210 Elizabeth St, New York 10012
(Btwn Prince & Spring St)
Phone: (212) 343 7011

Dinner
Mon-Thu: 6pm-11pm
Fri-Sat: 6pm-12am
Sun: 6pm-10:30pm
Brunch
Sat-Sun: 11am-3:30pm

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Balthazar: Kid-friendly Restaurants, SoHo, New York

October 8, 2012 / Cheese, Manhattan Munchies, SoHo / 4 Comments

Not only is the food at this famous establishment delicious, the staff is also more than accommodating towards babies. While we were initially trepidatious about bringing the babies to Balthazar, the staff checked our strollers and sat us down quickly.

The ever-helpful staff brought us bread for the babes to chew on, baked freshly in the Balthazar Bakery, gave kids spoons to play with (which then then spent a considerable amount of time picking up again off the floor …), and a little crayon kit to draw with.

Brunch at Balthazar means fresh bread and pastries, best ordered in the bread basked and shared with a group, and one of their delicious egg dishes.

I always order the same thing – the scrambled eggs in puff pastry with asparagus (it actually comes with mushrooms as well, but I request it without the shrooms as I’m a bad vegetarian and hate mushrooms. It’s one of Balthazar’s signature brunch dishes for a good reason – perfectly cooked eggs and asparagus in flaky puff pastry. Yum!

The only downside we experienced was that the tables are tightly packed, making it hard to squeeze in with a highchair. Get to know your neighbours well! Reservations (a few weeks in advance if possible) are recommended to avoid waiting, particularly on weekends.

Highchairs: Yes.
Stroller storage: Yes.
Easy access: Yes (no stairs).
Change tables: No (they do have ample bench space in the restrooms however and are more than happy for babies to changed there).
Kids’ menu: No.

Balthazar
80 Spring Street
(b’ween Broadway and Crosby)
New York, NY
Reservations: +1 (212) 965 1414

Hours:
Breakfast
Mon-Fri 7:30am-11:30am, Sat-Sun 8am-9am
(continental only)

Brunch
Sat-Sun: 9am-4pm

Lunch
Mon-Fri 12pm-5pm

Dinner & after hours
Mon-Thu 6pm-12am, Fri-Sat 6pm-1am, Sun 5:30pm-12am